Stevie Johnson Passes Physical, Deepens WR Corps

Veteran wide receiver Stevie Johnson has passed his physical and is now officially a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

Stevie Johnson has passed his physical and is now a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

The seven-year pro was acquired by his hometown team on day two of the 2014 NFL Draft for an undisclosed draft pick.

Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 207-pound receiver with three, 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, visited with Jim Harbaugh on Sunday before taking his medical examination.

Prior to the trade being completed, the coach spoke highly about the potential acquisition of the play-making receiver who was born in San Francisco and played at Chabot Junior College before starring at the University of Kentucky.

Harbaugh raved about his film study of Johnson, which included watching every pass thrown to the former Bills receiver over the past four seasons.

“I got a very good feeling about him,” the coach said. “This has a chance to be something. It’s neat – Hunters Point, Chabot Junior College, San Francisco 49ers. Some things were starting to align in the way we saw it and the way he saw it.”

With Johnson on the roster, San Francisco has one of the deepest receiving groups in the NFL. It’s a far cry from the start of the 2013 season when the team was challenged to find a No. 2 passing option with Michael Crabtree recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

Harbaugh is confident that the upcoming receiver competition during the team’s offseason program will bring the best out of his roster.

“The competition will bear that out,” Harbaugh said. “(Unseating) Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin, that’s a tall order for anybody.”

The coach isn’t ruling anything out, but conceded that Johnson will most likely contend for the No. 3 job. Johnson also has extensive experience playing in the slot, a role he primarily held for the Bills in 2013.

“(He’s) definitely competing for the third spot initially and right off the bat with Quinton Patton with Brandon Lloyd, with Jonathan Baldwin, (and) Chuck Jacobs,” Harbaugh said. “There’s quite a line there.”

Trent Baalke echoed the sentiment of his coach.

The general manager didn’t go out on a limb and say this is the most talent the team has had at wide receiver during his tenure, but Baalke didn’t he deny it as a possibility.

“I think you could make an argument that it is,” the GM said. “But, once again, until they get in here and they go to work and these young guys get in here and we see where Stevie’s at, we feel very good about it. Feel very good about the group and looking forward to watching them compete.”